CCpur, Tamenglong validate women's role in farming
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 23 2022: The contribution of women in farming is indeed immense and the same can be validated by the success of women farmers in Bulong in Churachandpur district and Khundong Khunkhaiba in Tamenglong who have been earning a substantial income through pineapple and turmeric plantation respectively.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Thinegcha Gangte (41), who is a member of Board of Directors of Kapaih Organic Farmer Producer Company Limited said that people of Bulong and its adjacent areas have been planting a new variety of pineapple which was brought by the village chief from Mizoram since the days of their forefathers.

Reportedly, Thinegcha Gangte along with about 80 other women of Bulong have been planting pineapples on about 6 acres of land in the hill slope of their village.

CCpur, Tamenglong validate women's role in farming

Stating that they have started planting a fresh batch of pineapples since March and the same will give fruits for about three years, Thinegcha Gangte said that they usually harvest their produce from July to September and from December to February.

Saying that Meira Food at Kakching Kuraopokpi usually buy the pineapples apart from MOMA which help the farmers in exporting their produce, the woman farmer maintained that she makes about Rs 3 lakh in the first harvest which starts from July and about Rs 1 lakh in the second harvest.

The women usually spend nearly six hours (9 am to 3 pm) at the plantation sites everyday, she said and added that the work is harder during monsoon as the pineapples are being planted in high altitude and carrying them in muddy terrain is risky.

Many people from the villages have become successful and occupy respectable positions in Government departments after educating them through the pineapples plantation business, she added.

It may be mentioned that Thinegcha Gangte had interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually on August 9, 2021 and the latter encouraged the woman farmer for her successful venture in pineapple growing business.

Meanwhile, many women farmers have been planting turmeric in Khundong Khunkhaiba under Tamei Sub-Division from Tamenglong successfully since the past many years.

One such farmer is Samurailatpam ningol Aruna Devi alias Thoibi who is married to Alex Abonmai, a VDF personnel from Khundong Khunkhaiba and has three children.

She said that about 40 women from Khundong Khunkhaiba have been planting turmeric in the hillslopes of the village under MOMA.

Saying that MOMA provided 30 bags of turmeric seeds for plantation last year and from it one truckload (Shaktiman) of turmeric had been produced, Aruna said that the turmeric was again dried for marketing.

She further stated that about 1,400 kg of dried turmeric have been sold to one organic shop at Chingmeirong at the rate of Rs 70 per kg.

Saying that the sites of turmeric plantation have to change regularly for better yield as dried grasses can be used as fertilizer, she said they, however, don't use any chemical fertilizer.

Aruna said that sale proceeds are divided among the growers.